Sluiceway and flood gate



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. PARKER. SLU'IGEWAY AND FLOOD GATE.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

KN-M

N. PETERS. Phalolithographnr. Wilhinghm ma 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

, T. PARKER. SLUIOEWAY AND FLOOD GATE.

1%. 372,040. Patented 001;. 25, 1887.

llll.

4 so i UNITED STATES PATENT Darren.

THOMAS PARKER, OF MENOMONEE, \VISCONSIN.

S LU|CE.WAY AND FLOOD GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,640, dated October25, 1887.

Application tiled May 16, 1887.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Menomonee, 1n the county of Dunn and State of VViscousin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sluiceway and FloodGates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the gates used in mill and other dams forsluicing logs, &c., and for flooding ponds and streams; and it con-SlSlS in the construction whereby the gate is made self-operating by thepressure of the water which is utilized to elevate the gate, ashereinafter shown.

The invention further consists in the man ner of constructing the gate,whereby it may be held poised at any desired point of'elevatwo, ashereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a plan view; and Fig. 2 is a sectional sideelevation on the line XXof Fig. 1,showing the gate elevated. Figs. 3, 4,and 5 are enlarged details illustrating the construction of the stopsfor holding the rods by which the altitude of the gate is regu lated.Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line Y Y of Fig. 2, lookingtoward the downstream end of the gate. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional viewon the lineZ Z of Fig. 2, looking toward the upstream end of the gate.Fig; 8 is a plan view onthe line W Wot' Fig. 2 of a portion of theforward or downstream end of the gate, illustrating the manner ofarranging the discharge valves or gates and the altituderegulatingmechanism. Fig. 9 is a view' similar to Fig. 2 of the bed and a portionof the cribbing,showing the position of the gate when depressed. Figs.10 and 11 are enlarged details Illustrating the manner of forming thestop waterfor packing upon the sides'of the gates.

A represents the bed of the sluiceway, and A A the cribbing forming thewalls or sides.

The bed and cribbing maybe of any desired or well-known formtimber work,or stonework or of any other construction; but for the purpose ofillustration I have shown it formed of timberwork in the ordinarymanner.

Across the downstream end of the bed A a roller or circular timber,B,isjournaled in suitable bearings, B secured to the bed A,

Serial No. 238,408.

and attached by one end to this roller is the gate proper, O,constructed of the plank or timbers bolted firmly together and furtherstrengthened by cross-timbers a upon the under side, as shown. B isanother roller some distance in the rear of the roller B, and similarlyjournaled to the bed A by bearings 13. The free end 12 of the gate 0 isconnected to this second roller, 13, by a jointed section consisting ofthe two parts (3 O, the part 0 joined to the free end of the gate 0 atb, and the part C joined to the roller 13'', while the two parts arejointed to each other at d, as shown, so that when the gate 0 isdepressed, as in Fig. 9, the two parts 0 C will fold in beneath thegate, and when the gate is elevated, as in Fig. 2, the two sections willform a back or rear wall to the space beneath the gate. A flume, A isformed in the space between the main walls, into which the Water willfreely flow from the upstream end of the dam, the flume being providedwith astopwall, A, by which the water is prevented from flowing entirelythrough the flame.

The flame A is connected to the space beneath the gate by a feedport, D,supplied with a valve or gate, D", by which the flow of the watertherethrough may be shut offif required, this feed port being placed sothat it opens into the sluiceway beneath the gate 0 and the foldingsections 0 0 as shown, and is not uncovered by the change of position ofthe gate when being elevated or depressed. The water is free to flowbeneath the roller B, and at one or more points in the bed A in front ofthe roller B are placed one or more discharge valves or gates, D, bywhich the outflow may be shut off if required.

The feed-gate D is adapted to be opened (No model.)

and closed from the top of the cribbing by a 'is a crank-arm, a,connected by a rod, e, to

another crank-arm, a on another upright shaft, 6 journaled in the fiumeA below the IOC stop-wall A and provided on its lower end with anothercrank-arm, c the latter in turn connected by a rod, 0, toa crank-arm,e", on the shaft c of the discharge-valve D The rods and crank-arms willbe so connected that when the lever c is turned to close the feed-gateD" the discharge gate D will be at the same time opened, and vice versa,so that the two gates act alternately, as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 9 the gate 0 is shown depressed, with the feed-gate D closed andthe dischargegate D open, so that the water is free to flow out frombeneath the gate. but cannot enter beneath it from the dome A; hence thepressure of the water above the gate will be sufficient to keep it downupon the bed A.

When it is desired to elevate the gate, the position of the valves arereversed by simply turning the lever c, which will open the feedvalve Dand close the discharge-valve D permitting the water to flow beneath thegate, but not permitting it to escape therefrom.

The difference in altitude between the water at the upstream end and atthe point where it passes beneath the gate creates a pressure sufficientto overcome the pressure of the water on the outside of the gate, andthus forces the gate upward and holds it elevated so long as the valve Dis kept closed and the valve D kept open; or, in other words, the waterin falling through the fiume A into the space beneath the gate exerts agreater pressure beneath the gate than the pressure of the water in thesluiceway outside the gate; hence the gate will be elevated and keptelevated, as before described.

Thejointcd sections 0 0 form an essential part of the gate proper, beingthe only means with which I am acquainted by which the main sect-ion Ocan be depressed from a perpendicular or from an angle above aboutthirty degrees from the horizontahwhieh is effected, as before stated,by drawing the water from beneath the gate through port D when the portD is closed,and thereby decreasing the press ure beneath the gate andallowing the pressure of the water entering through the port M to actupon the jointed sections and fold them down into the position shown inFig. 9.

\Vhen the gate is to be lowered again, the positions ofthe valves D D"are again reversed, the discharge-valve D being opened to permit thewater beneath the gate to flow out and downstream and the feed-valve Dbeing closed to prevent any more water flowing in beneath the gate, theoutflowing of the water removing the pressure of the water from beneaththe gate and causing the pressure of the water through the port M to actupon the double sections 0' G and forcing the gate into the positionshown in Fig. 9 as fast as the water escapes by the port D.

The bed A of the sluiceway is formed with a depression where the gate 0C C is placed, so that when the gate is lowered, as in Fig. 9,

it covers this depression and forms a part of the bed of the sluiccway.By this means the presence of the gate does not affect the sluiceway orlessen its size.

E E are a series of rods jointed to the parts (I C at their points ofunion at d, and attached to'the bed A at suitable intervals are a seriesof catches or stops, E corresponding in number to the rods E, and behindwhich the hooked ends 9 of the rods Eare adapted to be inserted toregulate the altitude of the gate when it is desired to hold it at anypoint other than entirely elevated or entirely depressed. The rods E areconnected by alateral bar, E, by which they are held in correspondingrelations, and one end of this bar is shown enibracing a rod, E,connected at one end, It, to

the side wall of the flume and passing out through the wall at h at theother end, and adapted to be thrown inward and outward to move the bar Eback and forth across the stops E to cause the hooks g to be connectedto or disconnected from the stops. The end of the rod E outside the wallof the flume A" is connected to one end of a rod or arm, E pivoted atits center to a bracket, h, on the wall of the flame, and connected atits other end to a crankarm, h, on an upright shaft, E, running upwardto a point above the cribbing, and provided with a lever, E by which theshaft may be revolved, the revolution of the shaft causing the arm to bevibrated upon its pivot hto move the rod E inward and outward,andthereby correspondingly moving the bar E, with the rods E attached,across the stops E". When the bar E is moved over to the point shown inFigs. 7 and 8, the hooks g on the rods E are out of contact with thestops E and the gate C is free to rise and fall to its full limit, thebar E simply sliding along over the stops E; but it' it is desired tohold the gate at an altitude less than its full height the bar IE willbe moved over, so as to cause the hooks g to enter behind one of thestops,which will hold thegate from being raised any higher, the heightbeing regulated by the stop behind which the hooks are caused to enter.

I have shown two methods of forming the stops, one being illustrated inFigs. 3, 4, and 5, and consisting of iron staples t", bolted through thebed A and set at the proper distance apart, the hooks 9 adapted to catchin the staples by the moving of the bar E from side to side. When thebar E is held by the arm E, so that the hooks g are out of cont-act withthe staples, the rods E simply move along the bed A and are inoperative,being operative only when the gate 0 is to be held at any point lessthan its highest altitude.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 the stops are merely' slots 2' in sections ofL-iron, the slots being at suitable distances apart to hold the gate atthe several altitudes required.

\Vooden or other chocks i" will be secured between the staples t" toprevent the books 57 running in between them.

ITO

I do not wish to be limited to any particular form for the stops, as Iam aware that they may be constructed in many difi'erent forms. Neitherdo-I wish to be limited to the precise form of the mechanism shown foroperating the rods E or the mechanism shown for operating the valves DD, as I am aware that many other simple devices may be employed for thesame purpose.

The flume A may be constructed of a separate conduit or tube, or in anyother desired manner; but generally it will form part of the mainsluiceway, as in the drawings. The entrance to the flume will be guardedby a rack, A, to prevent the entrance of drift material or other foreignmatter that would clog the gate or valves.

In Figs. 10 and 11 Ihave shown the method of forming the stopwater orpacking by which the water is prevented from flowing past the gate 0when it is elevated, consisting simply of a roller, F, supported in anysuitable manner beneath the edge of the gate 0 and adapted to be forcedagainst the walls A A by the pressure of the water, to close the slightnecessary gap between the gate and walls, and thus effectually pack thejoint between them.

G represents an idler-section join-ted by one end to the free end I) ofthe gate Cf and jointed by its lower end at m to a cross-bar, H, thelatter adapted to slide along ways H on the bed A of the sluiceway. Thisidlersection is intended to move with the gate G O C as it rises andfalls, to cover the folding sections and prevent drift-wood or otherobstructions from getting between the folding sections when the gate isdepressed, and also to assist logs in passing over the gate. The edgesof the ways H are formed "dovetailed or undercut, and the lower part ofthe cross-bar H is provided with correspondingly dovetailed or undercutclamps 111?, (see Fig. 6,) adapted to enclasp the ways and hold thecross-bar down upon the bed of the sluiceway and prevent it frombeingraised by its own buoyancy.

M is a port or opening connecting the space beneath the idler-section Gwith the fiume A, so that the water is free to flow beneath theidler-section and preserve the equilibrium and prevent, any variation inthe pressure on the two sides of the section. The port M has no valve,but is left open at all times, so that the water is free to flow in andout according as the gate-and its attachments are raised or lowered.

This makes a very simpleand efficientsluiceway and fioodgate, and doesnot require any mechanism for elevating or depressing it, but isentirely automatic in its action. It is entirely submerged whendepressed, and is exposed only when .the water is lower than its upperend, I), whichvery rarely occurs. The

gate is thus protected by the water and is not exposed to the changesfrom wet to dry, or

with a portion above the water and a portionbelow the water, whichalways has a bad effect upon the durability of gates.

The gate may be made of any width or height to adapt it to any size damor to wide or narrow streams.

The cribbing may be supplied with one or more of the flumes A, ifrequired; but generally only one will be required, as shown, and one ormore of the feed or discharge valves may be employed, as required.

In Fig. 8 I have shown two of the discharge-valves; but as many may beused as required.

I have shown the gates and bed broken apart to illustrate the fact thatthey may be made of any required width, and to'enable the drawings to bemade upon a larger scale.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A.slniceway-gate consisting of main section 0, jointed to the bed of theslniceway at its downstream end and connected to the bed of thesluiceway at its upstream end byjointed sections 0' O gadapted to foldbeneath said main section when said main section is lowered, and one ormore feed-valves connecting the space beneath said sections with thesource of supply for said sluiceway, and one or more discharge-valvesadaptedto discharge the wa ter from beneath said sections, whereby saidsections may be automatically elevated and depressed, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In asluiceway-gate, the combination of the main section 0, joint-edto the bed of the sluiceway at its downstream end, folding sections 0 Cjointed to said main section at its upstream end and to said bed, andadapted to fold beneath said main section when said main section isdepressed, feed-port I), connecting the space beneath said sections withthe source of water-supply and provided with valve D and discharge-porthaving valve D whereby water may be admitted beneath said sections toelevate said gate and discharged therefrom to lower said gate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sluiceway-gate, the combination of the main section O,jointed tothe bed of the sluiceway at its downstream end, folding sections C) 0jointed to said main section at its upstream end and to said bed, andadapted to fold beneath said main section when said main section isdepressed, feed-port D, connecting the space beneathsaid sections withthe source of water-supply and provided with valve D and discharge-porthaving valve Dflwhereby water may be admitted beneath said sections toelevate said gate and discharged therefrom to lower said gate, saidvalves connected by the same operating mechanism, whereby they areopened and closed alternately, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a sluiceway-gate, the combination of the main section G,'jointedto the bed of the 4 svzmo sluiceway at its downstream end, folding sections 0'' C, connecting the upstream end of said main section with thebed of the sluiceway, tlume A", adapted to supply water to the spacebeneath said sections from the sou rec of supply, a feed-port, D, havingvalve D, and dischargeport having valve 1)", whereby said gate may heelevated and depressed automatically, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In a sluiceway gate, the main section 0, jointed by its downstream endto roller B, journaled to the bed of the sluieeway, jointed sections 0 Cjointed at their upstream end to roller 13", likewise journaled to thebed of the sluieeway, said sections 0 (l jointed to each other and tothe upstream end of said main section, whereby they are capable offolding beneath said main section when said gate is lowered,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a sluicewaygate, the main section 0, jointed at its downstream endto thebed of the sluiceway, foldingseetions O C",connecting the upstreamend ot'said mainsection with said bed and adapted to fold beneath saidmain section when said gate is lowered, stop-rods E, connected to saidfolding sections and adapted to be connected by their lower ends tostops on the bed of the sluiceway,whereby the altitude of said gate maybe regulated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, in a sluicewaygate, of the main section 0, jointedto the bed of the sluieeway at its downstream end, folding sec tions CC", jointed to said main section and to said bed, st0prods E, jointed tosaid jointed sections and having hooked lower ends, g, stops Eflattachedto said bed, means for moving said rods from side to side to cause saidhooked ends to engage with or be disengaged from said stops, whereby thealtitude of said gate may be regulated, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

8. A sluieeway-gate consisting ofa main section,C,jointed to the bedofthe sluiceway atits downstream end and connected to the bed of thesluiceway at its upstream end by jointed sections 0 C", adapted to foldbeneath said main section when said main section is lowered, and one ormore feed-valves connecting the space beneath said sections with thesource of supply for said sluiccway, and one or more discharge-valvesadapted to discharge the water from beneath said sections andidlerseetion G, jointed to the upstream end of said main section andadapted to run upon the bed of said sluiceway and rise and fall withsaid gate to protect said folding section and assist logs and othermaterial to pass over said gate, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

9. lhecombination, in a sluiceway-gatc, of the main section 0, jointedsections (L C, idler-section G, flume A", and open port M, whereby theequilibrium is preserved upon both sides of said idler-section,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, in a sluieeway-gate,of the main section 0, jointedsections 0 O,

idlerset-tion G, said idler-section connected at its upstream end tocross-bar H, the latter adapted to move with said idler-section uponways 11, and caused to move parallel with the bed A by being connectedto said ways by dovetailed clamps, substantially as and for the purposeset forth. I

11. A sluiccway-gate consisting of the main section C, jointed at itsdownstream end to the bed of the sluieeway, folding sections 0 0,connecting the upstream end of said main section with said bed andadapted to fold beneath said main section, in combination with packingconsisting of roller F, adapted to be supported upon the edges of saidmain section and capable of being pressed against the walls of saidslniceway by the pressure of the water to prevent the passage of thewater between the side walls and gate, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS PARKERJ Vitnesses:

G. N. WooDwARD, H. S. \VEnsTnR.

